Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

By Nancy Stoops, M.A., M.F.T.

I think we underestimate our instincts. We seem to go to others more than trusting ourselves to make decisions.
I’ve always thought of our instincts as our own personal guide or life coach. Our instincts need to be trusted because they are a gift from God that helps us know what is right or wrong for us. We all have felt our stomachs change when we go against our instincts.
In reality, our instincts guide us. I’ve never understood why people would trust anybody else more than they would trust themselves. I think when people are generally insecure, they struggle trusting themselves and their instincts.
My instincts never fail me. When I was younger, I didn’t always follow them and would end up in trouble. Now that I’m older, and hopefully wiser, I know I can always trust my instincts.
Learn to pay attention to the red flags or warning signs, because they are there to protect us from potential harm. I have found that they generally are trying to tell me something that I need to know. Learn to have faith and start to believe in yourself. Start making decisions that are good for you and learn to trust your gut. The more you follow your instincts and see that they guide you well, the more trust you will develop in yourself.
You wouldn’t throw away a map that would take you to a very sacred destination. By not following your instincts, I think you are throwing away one of the most valuable tools you have for self exploration and finally finding confidence in yourself.
Learning to trust your instincts can also make you a good judge of character when it comes to deciding whether or not to let people into your lives. Once you find that confidence, you will be free to depend on yourself to decide what is right for your life. This confidence is a very empowering tool that can change a life.

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a private practice in Diamond Bar and is currently accepting new clients; she is also a motivational speaker who can inspire your employees or group members.  Nancy runs free family support groups, including a group on loss for seniors, and groups on how to manage anger. For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909) 229-0727, or via email at nancyjstoops@verizon.net.  Nancy’s books, “Midnight the Therapy Dog,” and “Live, Heal and Grow,” are available at Amazon.com.